Chapter 216 - 215: Enchanted Weapons
"Is there a reward for creating a new kind of Magic?" Zelir asked curiously. "Or is it purely for the sake of fame?"
"Of course there are rewards. Besides the basic Gold Coins, I can also borrow more precious materials from the Secret Collection Library."
"Perhaps there will even be some valuable Memory Crystals."
Hedley replied, full of enthusiasm.
"Once I’ve researched them thoroughly, I’ll be able to create even more High Level Magic and get promoted to Upper Level Mage."
"Huh...?"
As Zelir listened, he started to feel that something wasn’t quite right.
"Is creating a type of High Level Magic a prerequisite for promotion to Upper Level Mage?"
"Not exactly."
Mage Haddley waved her hand and explained.
"The promotion standards for research-type Mages are a little different from other Mages."
"During their assessment, research-type Mages aren’t held to as strict a standard when it comes to Magic Power Strength and Magic Manipulation Level. The requirements are much more relaxed."
"However, in exchange, the guild adds a new requirement: creating a new form of Magic. This is used to determine if they qualify for promotion."
"I see..." Zelir nodded slightly.
’It makes sense. Research-type Mages have to spend a great deal of energy and Magic Power on engraving Spell Structures, and they also have to consult archives and ancient texts.’
’If they were held to the same standards as other Mages, it would be far too strict.’
’While a research-type Mage’s combat ability is certainly no match for other Mages of the same Level, at least they aren’t treated differently when it comes to compensation and subsidies.’
’This is another form of recognition for their contributions.’
Remembering the Arcane Sword and Hammer of Destruction that Mage Haddley had just conjured, another idea sparked in Zelir’s mind.
"Mage Haddley, have you ever researched Magic that’s similar to Enchantment?"
Zelir said, "Or, to put it another way, do you know of any Enchantment Magic that has already been created?"
"Enchantment Magic?"
"Yes, the kind of Magic that imbues weapons with various unique abilities."
Zelir made a gesture to illustrate.
"Like Flame, lightning, or pure Arcane Magic Power... to increase one’s offensive capabilities."
"I had some ideas about that before... but after further investigation, I decided it wasn’t worth the trouble, so I didn’t pursue it."
Mage Haddley’s tone was somewhat flat.
"Not worth the trouble?" Zelir was taken aback.
"Yes... You should know this as well. Mages don’t have Fighting Qi, so their physical Constitution is inevitably far inferior to Professionals like Warriors, Rangers, and Assassins. It’s a major weakness."
"But there are many ways to compensate for this weakness in close combat, such as by developing more powerful Defensive Magic."
"A simpler solution is to hire a few bodyguards, or just have an Empowerment Mage cast Magic to enhance your Constitution."
"Compared to those options, spending a great deal of effort researching how to enchant weapons is really not a great idea."
"Because even if a weapon is imbued with Elemental or Arcane power, a Mage would have a hard time keeping up with an enemy’s speed. If you can’t land a hit, it’s all pointless."
"That’s true..." Zelir nodded slightly.
’That really is the reality for most Mages.’
"Even if you consider it a Magic for applying a Gain to your allies, its applications are still very limited. Professionals at the Middle Level and above can already enhance their weapons with their own Fighting Qi."
Mage Haddley continued.
"Their Fighting Qi is perfectly attuned to them, making it far more powerful than Magic Energy applied by an outsider. They have no need for your Enchantment."
"And as for Junior Professionals... their combat prowess is frankly a cause for concern."
Mage Haddley shook her head.
"Rather than wasting Magic Power to augment their weapons, you’d be better off saving it to cast a few more spells yourself."
"And there’s one more crucial problem..."
Mage Haddley’s gaze shifted to the Sword at Zelir’s side.
Zelir, noticing her gaze, drew his Longsword and handed it to Mage Haddley.
"Oof... it’s heavy."
Mage Haddley hadn’t expected the sword to be so hefty.
She took it with both hands, her expression slightly strained. "Your Constitution is excellent, Zelir, to be able to wield a Longsword like this."
"It is. That’s why I was asking about Enchantment Magic," Zelir said.
"How strange. It’s rare to see a Mage as physically strong as you."
Mage Haddley’s fingers gently traced the blade.
"This sword must be made of Fine Steel, isn’t it? And it’s been repeatedly forged and reforged..."
"Yes."
"As a sword, it’s more than adequate. But as a potential Enchanted Weapon, it’s not up to par."
"Why is that?" Zelir grew more curious.
"Let’s take a Flame Enchantment for example."
She extended a fair palm, and with a flicker of thought, a small flame ignited out of thin air.
The blade reflected the firelight, its cold, steely gray turning a warm orange.
Mage Haddley then slowly moved the flame closer.
The invisible moisture on the blade’s surface instantly evaporated.
Then, a faint, rainbow-colored film began to appear on its surface.
This was the characteristic change that occurs on the surface of steel when it’s scorched by flame, a result of the rapid temperature increase.
"Because swords, even those made of Fine Steel, can’t withstand high temperatures for extended periods."
"This is just an ordinary Flame. If the Enchantment’s temperature gets too high, or it lasts for too long, the blade will begin to melt and bend."
"If your enchanted blade softens in the middle of a fight, it’s tantamount to suicide."
Mage Haddley extinguished the Flame and returned the Fine Steel Longsword.
"I see..." Zelir returned it to its sheath.
’I really hadn’t considered that problem before.’
"Other forms of Enchantment also have material issues to consider. Ordinary steel has very poor compatibility with and conductivity for Magic Power."
"Even if you manage to cast it, the Magic Energy will be lost and dissipate as it flows through the blade, greatly diminishing the effect."
"As for materials that have an affinity for Magic Power and are also sturdy enough to be used as weapons..."
Mage Haddley looked toward Night Peace.
"The material of your Magic Wand, for instance, is quite suitable... If I’m not mistaken, it’s Star Meteorite Wood, isn’t it?"
"Yes." Zelir nodded.
"How much did it cost?"
"One Hundred Gold Coins."
"One Hundred Gold Coins?!"
An incredulous expression immediately appeared on Mage Haddley’s face. "How is that possible? That’s far too cheap... isn’t it?"
"The person who sold me the Magic Wand said that since very few people use wands made of Star Meteorite Wood, they couldn’t sell it, so they dropped the price by that much," Zelir recalled.
"Even so, that’s still ridiculously cheap..."
Mage Haddley still couldn’t quite believe it.
"Never mind, let’s not get stuck on that... Anyway, just think about it. To make a proper Enchanted Weapon, the material needs to be at least on the level of Star Meteorite Wood."
"It needs to be hard enough to resist impact and have a high affinity for Magic Power."